Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-03
HOW THEY WILL RUN
OPINION OF ELECTRICIANS ABOUT
ELEcTRIccABs HIRE.
Meeting Of the Committee on Streets
Last Night-Aotion
Postponed.

The City Council Committee on Streets
met In the Chancery-Court room last night
TO consider the expediency Of allowing the
Union Passenger. Railway Company TO run
their street. cars by electricity. There we're
present: Messrs. Crenshaw (chairmanl,
staIke, Cuchins, Bodeker, Hin, Prlter,
Rlapd, +. c. Murphy, Ch,ppelI. PoHers,
apd Griffin. Besides, number OF experts
and electricians were In attendance.
CAPTAIN COKE.
Upon invitation, Captain john A. Coke,
who is counsel for the Union Passenger
Rulway Company, first addressed the
committee. lie said his company desired
to be allowed to use electric motors on Us
ears. The use Of electricity was not an ex-
periment. hut an established success. He
then explained the advantages Of electricity,
and argued that for the purposes here
mentioned II would add 10 the growth and
prosperity OF the city.
LIEUTENANT GREENE.
Lieutenant s. ID. Greene, an accom-
plished electrician, representing the
Sprogue Electric. Motor and Railway Com.
pany Of New York, explained the technical
working OF the cars by electricity. [Tbe
gist OF his renarks was published In an In
teryiew IN this paper yesterday.]
One new point which he brought ont,
however, was in regard to the poles for The
overhead wire. These will be from 100 to
200 feet apart and Is or 20 feet high. On
narrow streets where there Is only sinele
line Of track poles on only one side Of
the street will be required. Brackets or
arms will be used, though. On double
tracks a line Of poles on each side OF The
street will be necessary.
Mr.. BARRY.
Mr.. Barry, secretary and treasurer OF the
Union Railway Company, said he had WIS.,
tied the city several years ago, saw the me-
cessity for another railway line, and helped
to inaugurate the enterprise. He believed
It would pay. They intended TO nuke the
road first.class IN every respect.
SUPERINTENDENT TREE.
Mr. j. b. Tree, superintendent OF the
Western Union Telegraph C0mpany's
office here. said the electric railway wires
would not interfere with the telegraph lines.
SUPERINTENDENT M'GUER
Mr.. c. T.. McCluer, superintendent Of the
Southern Bell Telephone Company, said he
rad a good theoretical knowledge OF the
electric-m motor system, but had no practical
knowledge Of It's workings. From the de-
scripton Lieutenant Greene had given he
was convinced there was no danger. He
thought the wires would only slightly in
terfcre with the telephone connections.
SUPERINTENDENT THOMPSON.
Mr.. w. II. Thompson, superintendent OF
the FiTe-Alarm Telegraph OF the city. saw
no more danger from the railway wires
than at present exists with the electric
liaht lines. The wires would Interfere
somewhat with the manipulation OF the
HAYES ok-and lauder truck.
Mr.. HYDEL.
Mr.F. G. Hydel, Of the Schuyler Electric.
Light Company. said the line would not D.
leifeTe with his.
THE CITY ENGINEER.
Colonel Cutshaw saw no more obi pction
to the use OF streets for the use OF electric
motors than for electrlc.light or telegraph
poles.
DIR. BURTON.
DR.. W. Leigh Burton, who has had some
experiencein IN heating by electricity, said he
thought the elecJrlc system entlIely leu.lolc
as a motive power. He expected to see
the time come when street.cars would not
only he run by electricity, but be lighted
and heated in the same way.
AN AMENDMENT.
Captain Coke said his company desired
10 have its route amended in one porticu-
lar. Instead o. having the cars run on
Twenty.eighth street they wanted them
changed TO Twenty-ninth street. They
also wanted permission to lay double
instead Of a single track on Franklin from
Twelfth TO Twenty.first street.
All action was postponed until to-mor-
row night, when the committee will aga,n
meet at 7:30 O'Clock. IL was decided To
refer the question TO the City Attorney AZ
once, 50 that he may be ready to draw up
A saiely.guarded ordinance granting the
desired nprmiSSi III Teolirpd